Boscastle

Reading Exercise
B2 Intermediate level
Read the four texts below. There are eight questions (a-j) about the texts.
Decide which text (1, 2, 3, or 4) tells you the answer to the question.
Mark your answers on your Answer Sheet.
 Text 1. Text 2. Text 3. Text 4. Questions
Hi, Sam. I’m sitting in my garden writing this,
looking up the valley towards Boscastle which,
some years ago, looked as if it could never
recover from the terrible floods. But that’s
history now. We have all moved on and, if
anything, it’s brought the people together,
creating an even better atmosphere. The
village looks beautiful at this time of year.
Why not come and see for yourself? I’ve got
plenty of room – in fact I’ve got a guest room
with its own shower - so do think about it.
 Text 1. Text 2. Text 3. Text 4. Questions
Boscastle is a medieval harbour and village hidden in a
steep-sided valley. This natural harbour on the North
Cornwall coastline was created by the meeting of three
rivers. Boscastle is an excellent base for touring the
area, including moorlands, sheltered wooden valleys
and coastal footpaths offering magnificent views. The
visitor can explore the beautiful surrounding area with
its ancient woods, the old village of Boscastle with
cottages dating back to the 15th century, the site of the
Norman Castle and the medieval farming system which
is still in operation.
 Text 1. Text 2. Text 3. Text 4. Questions
After suffering from flooding in 2004, Boscastle has
been largely rebuilt. First, the main car park was
moved away from the river edge. This improved the
river itself and the well-being of the wildlife it
supports. A major project was then reconnecting
the east and west banks by the harbour with a new
foot and vehicle bridge. Considering the picturesque
setting, a number of options were considered and
tested. The favoured bridge design, now complete,
appears on postcards of Boscastle and has been
recognised for the quality of its design.
 Text 1. Text 2. Text 3. Text 4. Questions
Come to Boscastle and walk in the ancient footsteps
of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.
You can also retrace the novelist Thomas Hardy’s
footsteps. He fell in love with Boscastle when
working as an architect on the renovation of the
church. Here he also fell in love with and married
Emma. Although it wasn’t a successful marriage,
this didn’t put Hardy off Boscastle. When he
returned to his parents’ home, he wrote some sad
and moving poetry in which he described the area.
 Questions (a - d) Text 1. Text 2. Text 3. Text 4.
I. Which text…
a) … informs the reader about Boscastle’s geographical location?
? Text 2.
b) … would appeal to lovers of literature?
? Text 4.
c) … describes different parts of a process?
? Text 3.
d) … tells how a closer community was formed?
? Text 1.
 Questions (e - h) Text 1. Text 2. Text 3. Text 4.
II. Which text provides the answers to the following questions?
e) What is a highly regarded piece of modern architecture?
? Text 3.
f) What has naturally formed the harbour?
? Text 2.
g) What romantic association does Boscastle have?
? Text 4.
h) What ancient traditional method is still used?
? Text 2.